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January 04, 2006
A Tale of Three Magi (strates)
I can't tell whether the Hamilton County Jail is reminiscent of a lawless Wild West, or if local media and officials are blowing things out of proportion. Any sense among you local readers for where this really stands?
I'm talking about the County Magistrate flap, where one side screams "scrap!" and the other, well, more like "nap." From one perspective, there does seem to be an opportunity for accountability improvements. But one County Commissioner explosively demanded the program's cessation altogether. (It might just be due to my bias, but I see a "baby with the bath water" pattern at work in Commissioner Adams' approaches to problems. Think Jesse Register/school funding; certain individual Democrats' issue positions/party switch; now this one.)
Of course, an abrupt termination of the magistrates would not be without cost. They would be "bought out," i.e., taxpayer-supplied money would continue to flow to them for services they would no longer be rendering the paying public. In what I see as a shrewd move, Adams' election opponent (John Bailes) seized on this aspect in his latest campaign statement.
I prefer a rational, dialogue-driven solution.
In the latest news on the subject, former magistrate Charles Rucker's contract has been bought out -- not for the full remaining amount, but for $27,762.
Government | By joe lance | 01:47 PM